The Talon and the Flame

By: Terry Mancour

Narrated by: Marian Hussey

Time is running out!

Dara of Westwood, known as the Hawkmaiden, has always been caught between two worlds. Born to a humble clan of woodsmen, her unexpected magical talents had seen her apprenticed to Minalan the Spellmonger, the greatest wizard in the world, to fight for years against the goblin invasion that threatened all of humanity. She had been a war hero before her first kiss, riding giant hawks into battle in defense of her people.

But the war is over, now, and Dara finds herself ennobled, wealthy, respected, admired... and completely alone. Her comrades, friends, and fellow apprentices are settling down to enjoy their hard-won peace, but Dara has few prospects for happiness now that the war is done. Her command over the other Sky Riders is in jeopardy as missions dry up, and she discovers she lacks much purpose in this new world. The sacred Flame her family adores beckons her, promising simple homelife and domestic happiness... but she knows no life without her sword Talon in her hand. While her friends dream of love and marriage, Dara's nights are filled with horrific nightmares about her violent past.

Then the Goddess of Fire, Briga, takes an interest in her love life, and everything changes. Charged by the goddess to rediscover her youthful passions after a lifetime of military service, Dara embarks on a quest to fill the lonely place in her heart... only to be distracted by a new danger lurking in the hills near her home. Some insidious force is kidnapping the poor peasant children and inflicting them with a horrible curse, while raising an army of undead, and no one but Dara seems to care to stop it.

Supported by her friends Laretha and Alurra, Dara considers the few motley suitors who may have an interest in her—her childhood friend Sir Festaran, her former suitor Gareth, the roguish mage Daro—and she even flirts with the handsome young baron of Taravanal. But it's hard to take romance seriously when some dark, necromantic force is rising and preying on the innocent so close to home, a power so terrifying it's even scaring the hill bandits away.

Dara has to make a decision: does she put aside her sword and her vocation as a magical guardian and embrace her passion, or does she eschew the Flame her people hold sacred and devote her life to defending the innocent against powers only she can confront? While peacetime brings hope and prosperity to others, Dara is torn between the allure of the Talon... or the Flame!

©2025 Terry Mancour (P)2025 Podium Audio

Great exploration of Character

The Hawkmaiden gets another adventure of her own. While still illuminating the world of the spellmonger. More world building, but essentially character building book from Terry Mancour. All of the magical details we have come to love from the series, with the addition of Dara becoming a character with flaws and strengths. No longer the petulant youth who will fly into battle. She has to contend with who she is in peace time.

Fantastic wrap up of a side story.

The book was fantastic as all in the series have been. The narrator did a fantastic job. The 4 star is because I prefer the same narrator for every book even when the main character is female. The do like that Mancour writes stories involving the other characters that really add to the main storyline and keeps the story fresh by hearing parts of it from different points of view.

Great continuation and side story for the world of Calidor

I love the hawk maiden. She one of many female protagonists that are well written and relatable.

Walks a tightrope

Most of the book balances on a very narrow line between having the main character remain sympathetic or being a total b****. It just barely lands on this side of enjoyable. Still, the resolution to the story was a mixed bag that left an unpleasant aftertaste to an decent enough boom.

Was getting mixed feelings about Dara…

Great story. I found myself back and forth with how I felt about Dara. Mad, sad, disappointed and finally happy for her. I enjoyed this installment tremendously.